Welcome to the Early to Rise Challenge! Throughout the month of March, I’m challenging myself and my readers to make the most of their mornings. So every week day morning at 9 a.m. EST, I’m posting a short Early to Rise post. I’ll share a few of my thoughts on the day’s passage from Early to Rise, tell you what time I got up that morning, and encourage you to leave a comment to tell us what time you got up and how you’re doing on the challenge.
Turn Frustrations to Gratitude
One of the most important things to be successful in the Early to Rise challenge and use your mornings well is to wake up with a cheerful attitude. Maybe that cheerful attitude isn’t right as your feet hit the floor, but hopefully soon thereafter, you feel invigorated and excited about the day before you.
Joy fuels our energy. The more positive we can be about life, the more energy we’ll have. And the more energy we have, means the more productivity we have.
If you wake up frustrated by a situation, it’s hard to be joyful and positive. But life is full of frustrations and disappointments, so it’s only natural that we’re going to encounter them.
How you respond to frustrations will either make or break your day. As I often say, you can’t always change your circumstances, but you can always choose your attitude.
So today, if you are feeling frustrated or discouraged about something, challenge yourself to choose a good attitude. Choose to focus on the blessings in your life. Choose to list the things that you can be thankful for in a situation. Dwell on the positive, the good, the beautiful.
How can you turn your frustrations into gratitude today?
What Time Did You Get Up This Morning?
Yes, it was another crazy-early morning. You can read why I’m adopting this short-term schedule here.
What time did you get up? Leave a comment and let us know!
Join in the Chatter!
Want to blog about this challenge? If you’re blogging through this challenge with me, be sure to leave your link to your direct post for today below. Plus, if you’d like to post your daily posts to the Early to Rise Group Board on my Pinterest page, just shoot me an email (moneysavingmom @ gmail dot com) and I’ll invite you.
Want to follow along on Twitter or Instagram? Each week day morning on my Facebook Page, my Twitter account, and my Instagram account, I’ll be posting a picture of my alarm clock as public accountability. I’d love to have you do the same or join in the discussion on Twitter and Instagram. Just follow hashtag #EarlytoRise to see what others are tweeting and Instagramming about this challenge!
Katie says
6:10 -ish.
Didn’t get to post last night – I got to count contractions (that ultimately didn’t go anywhere) for four hours instead. Talk about frustrations! This was a very timely topic.
Sarah says
I was up at 6:20am.
My frustration today was my 3 year old who did not sleep well last night and was cranky. I turned my frustration into gratitude by taking the time to realize that he will only be little once and I have to appreciate this time with him….no matter what his attitude is.
Angie F. says
It’s true, our focus at the moment (on ourselves, or on Him) determines our level of gratitude and our ability to shake the negative, me focused thoughts that threaten to “ruin” our day and affect our most important relationships.
Last year, the focus word God gave me was “perspective”. One of my oldest children was pushing the limits of my patience, and causing pain, almost on a daily basis. It was difficult to show grace at times! I was frustrated often, and so weary. Except that a friend of mine had lost her only child, her beautiful teen daughter, to bone cancer that February. 🙁 So, any time I was “fed up” and wanted to grumble about one of my kids, especially that precious trying one, I thought of my friend. She has been an inspiration to many with her amazingly good attitude (though she is very honest and easily expresses her grief) and with her unwavering trust in God’s sovereign plan.
God reminded me how much she would give even just to have a silly argument with her teenager, (I have three) and how much she longed to see and hold her sweet girl again. It broke my heart anew every time, humbled me, helped me to see past my “light and temporary trials” and overcome my momentary self pity. My issue was still valid and required prayer and wisdom, but in view of eternity and our vapor of time on earth, it didn’t seem so huge, hopeless and insurmountable, or as tragic. In light of my friend’s loss, I was glad, no-thankful, to be allowed the chance to endure, and appreciate, all my blessings, even if they didn’t seem like that at the time! (Btw: things are much better with my situation this year. God is so good.)
Yesterday, I was reading Max Lucado’s book “Six hours one Friday”. In one chapter he describes a particularly bad day, and the bad attitude that followed…a canceled flight, an unexpected rainstorm that ruined his camera, a disagreement with his wife about the upcoming holidays, and to top it all off, his car broke down! Unexpected delays, and waiting, lots of waiting. He wasn’t just frustrated, he was ANGRY. (Isn’t that really what frustration is? The other word sounds so much more “acceptable” to express!) Then the pity party started, and the enemy started listing off all the “misfortunes” throughout Max’s life, causing him to dwell and complain to God. Oye!
Then, he saw a homeless street urchin (he was in Brazil) and God quietly responded to Max’s grumblings. Into his heart He said, about all the unforeseen irritations and hassles, that Max was actually crying over spilt champagne. In other words, he was complaining about an abundance of blessings (rather than a lack of necessities) and the inconveniences caused by them; bellyaching over frills of life that much of the world lacks, whining about the benefits he enjoyed daily. How many would love a chance to “endure’ some of those, especially that filthy, hungry boy! Max was made aware that the source of his problems was actually caused by his many blessings, and that his wrong attitude, and lack of gratitude towards them, was not glorifying to God or beneficial to him. Ouch. That “timely lesson in being grateful, on being thankful for what he had instead of what he didn’t, recognizing the treasure in the simple things, the comfort of the common” was that child’s, and God’s, gift to him that day; no doubt one he’s not forgotten since! (Loved Melissa’s post here. Great perspective!)
It was a good reminder to me, as was today’s post here, as although I do try to find the good, and often even the humor in challenging things, I am also sometimes too quick to grumble and complain first. This year I am being more purposeful in choosing Joy. Not that I want to present a false cheerfulness or fake being happy, (too often we say “I’m fine” through gritted teeth and a clenched jaw, determined to plough through anyways, in our own pitiful strength. God knows that, sees that, and so do others.) I must be real, no masks of insincere piety, we are only imperfectly human after all! I do sincerely hope though that I will choose to be content, regardless of my circumstances, like the apostle Paul said, and therefore positively impact my household each day; first by praying, lining up my will with His, and with my attitude choices of gratitude and grace. Determined to keep my eyes steadfastly focused on Him, no matter what! Thanks for the added accountability and inspiration. 🙂
K Quinn says
I’ve been waking up naturally at 7 so this is within my goal. I need to move it early and will aim to do so after the challenge. I’m dealing with allergies or head cold or something at the moment so it’s wiping me out. I get so much done when I get up earlier.
I get frustrated when my family doesn’t pick up after themselves. But I’m very thankful and happy to have such a loving family. Okay so they’re forgiven.
Kate says
It is our Spring Break so I got up at 6:50am. My son is sick so it has not been a very productive day. Oh well, he needs lots of snuggling.
Kate
Jason Cabler (@DrCabler) says
I’ve found the quicker you can get into positive mode the better when you wake up in the morning. I like to thank God just for waking up and then go from there. Recognizing God for anything first thing in the morning begins to set me right.
Then as the morning goes on I try to thank Him and declare things over me and my family before I get to work. That routine really helps me out a lot!
Shannon says
Another great perspective! My frustration today is that while playing tag with my son last night, I broke my toe. The way I have already turned this into a positive is that it is a rather insignificant toe postioned between my pinky toe and the other one sooo… There is no point in going to the doctor which I’m secretly grateful for and I can still walk. As far as I’m concerned, it could have been alot worse and I can still walk so I’m keeping my daily goal list just the way it is and maintaining a positive attitude!
Crystal says
I love your positive attitude… but I’m sorry about your toe! 🙁
Stephanie @ Housewife Mama says
My alarm is set for 6am. I heard a little one fussing in the next room so I went into stealth mode and laid perfectly still so as not to fully wake them. Next thing I know it’s 6:32. Oops. If I don’t start my day in THE WORD than my frustrations outweigh my gratitude severely.
Crystal says
It sounds like you needed some extra sleep. 🙂
Melissa says
Up at 5:05am again for the third day in a row this week! yay! 🙂
I must be already in a cheerful mindset because I haven’t encountered anything that left me frustrated this morning. It’s true that perspective is everything. I try to choose to be happy. Sometimes it is more difficult than others, I will admit. I try to remember that dirty dishes in the sink means that we had a lovely meal at home when many people don’t have that luxury. I try to think of our busy calendar as evidence of a full and productive life. It really does help me to change my mindset! I do have my moments though were I do grumble about dishes, etc… I am still human. lol.
Carol@simple_catholic says
Today was my best rising day since the beginning of the challenge – 5:15. I can’t even believe how much I have gotten done already today, including getting some food shopping done – and it’s only 10:40 EST!
I agree about how our attitude can make all the difference. I am optimistic by nature but when I do get frustrated I try to stop for a few minutes to remember at least three things that are going good and I should be grateful for.
Crystal says
Woohoo! Go you!
Shelly says
Focusing on the positive is really helpful when I am trying to make changes. I have found with this challenge when I wake up if I focus on how nice it is to get up early in the peacefulness of the house before everyone else is up it is easy for me to get out of bed.
It is those mornings that I wake up and think about how cold the house is or how tired I feel, when I find myself wanting to just stay in bed.
Jillian Kay says
I was up at 4:22. I’ve been pushing it a little earlier so I can sit down and eat breakfast with the kids. I realized I wasn’t setting a good example in that area, and that they wouldn’t learn to sit and eat if I didn’t!
So true about the cheerful attitude. And the good thing about getting up hours before the rest of the world: if it takes a while to work myself out of a bad mood, at least there’s no one up to witness it!
Crystal says
I love your last sentence! What a great extra incentive for getting up early. 🙂
Sandra says
Oh my gosh, Crystal. I somehow missed your post about getting up so early to do the editing needed to meet your goal. I too, am a goal oriented personality, so I can completely understand your drive. I have to say, the way you and your husband work together to ensure your children are well cared for while you are pursuing your goals is something I’d like to applaud! It’s wonderful to see real life examples of committed parenting. I know from reading the comments of other readers some are also committed parents. In today’s world I think that alone is something to be proud of.
I woke up this morning at 0650 and felt such a peace while worshiping. I had a lovely, lovely visit with my pastor last evening and feel the guidance I received will help me to move closer to my accomplishing all which I am set out to do.
Have a great day everyone!
Crystal says
So thankful you had a wonderful morning!
And yes, you are absolutely right, I am so blessed to be married to a husband who is not only my best friend but also my cheerleader and team mate. He’s so amazing at coming up with creative ways to readjust things as life ebbs and flows — and he’s always so willing to pitch in and help, too!
Connie C. says
My goal was 6 am. Feet hit the floor at 6:05 am. Go me! I then spent a bit of extra time reading for an online book club I am in – the book is getting very good so it was time well spent!
Crystal says
Go you!